Uncommon AMQS from the important American composer and organist, a leading figure in American church music and the composer of over 1600 hymns, many of which are often sung today. To a more general audience, he is also remembered for composing the musical setting of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Signed "Lowell Mason," followed by 2 measures of manuscript music, apparently a quotation from an unidentified tune.
Mason was largely responsible for introducing music into American public schools, and is considered to be one of the first important music educators in the United States. An important figure on the Boston musical scene, he served as president of the Handel and Haydn Society (1827-1832), taught music in the public schools, was co-founder of the Boston Academy of Music [1833], and in 1838 was appointed music superintendent for the Boston school system. He published a number of important song and hymn collection, including the Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book in 1859.
"Mason's influence on American music is generally regarded as a mixed blessing. Although he established music as an integral part of public school education, he replaced the indigenous fuging tunes and anthems of 18th-century America with hymn tunes and anthems arranged from European music or imitations based on ‘scientific’ principles producing ‘correct’ harmonies. Among his lasting hymn tunes, composed or arranged, are ‘Antioch’ (Joy to the World), ‘Bethany’ (Nearer my God to thee), ‘Hamburg’ (When I survey the wondrous cross), and ‘Olivet’ (My faith looks up to thee). Mason and Thomas Hastings, both of whom opposed the more folklike musical idioms of revivalism, jointly compiled Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (1832) to counteract the influence of the revivalist Joshua Leavitt's popular Christian Lyre (1830). Through the publication of his books, most of them for schools or churches, Mason attained an extraordinary influence over American tastes." (Grove Online)
Uncommon AMQS from the important American composer and organist, a leading figure in American church music and the composer of over 1600 hymns, many of which are often sung today. To a more general audience, he is also remembered for composing the musical setting of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Signed "Lowell Mason," followed by 2 measures of manuscript music, apparently a quotation from an unidentified tune.
Mason was largely responsible for introducing music into American public schools, and is considered to be one of the first important music educators in the United States. An important figure on the Boston musical scene, he served as president of the Handel and Haydn Society (1827-1832), taught music in the public schools, was co-founder of the Boston Academy of Music [1833], and in 1838 was appointed music superintendent for the Boston school system. He published a number of important song and hymn collection, including the Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book in 1859.
"Mason's influence on American music is generally regarded as a mixed blessing. Although he established music as an integral part of public school education, he replaced the indigenous fuging tunes and anthems of 18th-century America with hymn tunes and anthems arranged from European music or imitations based on ‘scientific’ principles producing ‘correct’ harmonies. Among his lasting hymn tunes, composed or arranged, are ‘Antioch’ (Joy to the World), ‘Bethany’ (Nearer my God to thee), ‘Hamburg’ (When I survey the wondrous cross), and ‘Olivet’ (My faith looks up to thee). Mason and Thomas Hastings, both of whom opposed the more folklike musical idioms of revivalism, jointly compiled Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (1832) to counteract the influence of the revivalist Joshua Leavitt's popular Christian Lyre (1830). Through the publication of his books, most of them for schools or churches, Mason attained an extraordinary influence over American tastes." (Grove Online)